The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, who is from Kano in the North-West, has stated that the North-East should produce the next vice-president, while the President of the Senate should come from the South-East.
Ado-Doguwa also stated that the APC could win with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. He noted that Tinubu, a Muslim, is married to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian.
The lawmaker disclosed that he was part of the negotiations that made northern governors to back southern presidency.
He further said the National Assembly was working with the Progressive Governors’ Forum, to select a vice-presidential candidate for the party.
Ado-Doguwa said, “I want to say we, as a National Assembly Caucus, do not have to champion or advocate any separate cause to ask or to influence the choice of the vice-president. The governors have honestly shown leadership. They provided direction and exhibited a spirit of selflessness, which hitherto was lacking. We now have unwavering confidence in the body of the PGF.
“We are eminent members of the NEC (National Executive Committee), National Caucus and the presidential tripartite committee of our great party, where we offer our bits of advice and help to provide direction for our party.”
Speaking on concerns that Tinubu, a Muslim, might be forced to pick a Muslim running mate from the North where Christians are the minority, the House’ Majority Leader said the APC could win the presidential election with any combination, considering the candidate’s personality.
Ado-Doguwa said, “I believe Senator BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) is a very good choice in this regard. He has a wealth of experience. He has the requisite global exposure to make our country a greater nation. It is, therefore, my thoughts that, even a Muslim-Muslim ticket could fly, just like a reverse case could also work.
“For me, whichever way it goes, the APC would emerge victorious come 2023. The scientific parameters for electoral success in a developing country like our own have proved to us that the ruling APC is still the party to beat.”
Another member of the National Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said Tinubu would likely contest the election with a Muslim running mate.
The lawmaker said, “The truth is that in the North-East, governors are the ones who feel they play a vital role in bringing in the presidential candidate. They will want to pick the vice-presidential candidate too, to add value to the ticket. And in adding value to the ticket, they will prefer to be the ones to bring in the running mate. From all indications, he (Tinubu) is very careful. He does not want to have problems with the governors because they are going to play a vital role in the elections. So, he is trying to take his time. But I can assure you that the North-East is where people are trying to look at because the President Muhammadu Buhari just finished from the North-West. So, it would have been good to give us in the North-East. That is what is on their mind.”
Another member of the National Assembly from the North-East also disclosed that the North-East was being considered for the slot.
